Source-backed decision research

Explore how AAO evaluates evidence.

Search a substantial collection of case-specific reasoning, then narrow it by petition, field, legal issue, or date.

This expanded collection favors source-backed access over perfect automated classification. Fields, labels, summaries, and relevance may contain errors; records marked ‘broader context’ need extra care. Review the cited source before relying on any record. These appeals and motions do not show approval odds or denial rates, and are not legal advice or a prediction.

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10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 22712280

EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not demonstrate that 'responsibility for engineering work of substantial importance' rises to the level of 'outstanding achievements,' nor that admission to ASCE Member grade is judged by recognized national or international experts.

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The Petitioner did not demonstrate that 'responsibility for engineering work of substantial importance' rises to the level of 'outstanding achievements,' nor that admission to ASCE Member grade is judged by recognized national or international experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-12_04_B2203; source_row=41725
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's base salary of $97,500–$105,000 does not exceed the 75th percentile for civil engineers nationally. Non-guaranteed compensation and benefits are not salary. The Petitioner's comparison data was limited to average or mean wages and self-reported sources, which is insufficient to show a high salary relative to others performing similar work in the field.

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The Petitioner's base salary of $97,500–$105,000 does not exceed the 75th percentile for civil engineers nationally. Non-guaranteed compensation and benefits are not salary. The Petitioner's comparison data was limited to average or mean wages and self-reported sources, which is insufficient to show a high salary relative to others performing similar work in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-12_04_B2203; source_row=41730
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions

Why AAO was not persuaded

The recommendation letters do not contain sufficient detail or explanation of originality, and the record lacks corroborating evidence demonstrating the Petitioner's work has influenced the field beyond his employer and clients. The evidence does not show major significance at the field-wide level.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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The recommendation letters do not contain sufficient detail or explanation of originality, and the record lacks corroborating evidence demonstrating the Petitioner's work has influenced the field beyond his employer and clients. The evidence does not show major significance at the field-wide level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-12_04_B2203; source_row=41728
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO reversed the Director, finding the Globee article lacked required date and author information and there was no evidence it is a professional or major trade publication. The NewsBreak.com article appeared to be marketing material and the Petitioner failed to show NewsBreak.com qualifies as major media given the limited comparison data provided.

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AAO reversed the Director, finding the Globee article lacked required date and author information and there was no evidence it is a professional or major trade publication. The NewsBreak.com article appeared to be marketing material and the Petitioner failed to show NewsBreak.com qualifies as major media given the limited comparison data provided.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-12_04_B2203; source_row=41726
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The newly submitted Technology Plan Supplement does not address how the proposed VR education endeavor has broader implications indicative of national importance—e.g., national/global implications, improved manufacturing or medical advances, or significant potential to employ U.S. workers. General education/technology documents do not identify the Petitioner or her specific endeavor, making them immaterial.…

Why this is useful

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The newly submitted Technology Plan Supplement does not address how the proposed VR education endeavor has broader implications indicative of national importance—e.g., national/global implications, improved manufacturing or medical advances, or significant potential to employ U.S. workers. General education/technology documents do not identify the Petitioner or her specific endeavor, making them immaterial. Letters of support contain very little specific information about the proposed endeavor's national importance. Evidence about a prior project the Petitioner participated in does not inform how the prospective endeavor may have national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-12_02_B5203; source_row=41711
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

Final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO reserved the formal final merits determination under Bagamasbad because the step-1 threshold was not met, but noted in dicta that the record in the aggregate did not establish the required acclaim.

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AAO reserved the formal final merits determination under Bagamasbad because the step-1 threshold was not met, but noted in dicta that the record in the aggregate did not establish the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-12_02_B2203; source_row=41710
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

Authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not disturb the Director's finding that criterion (vi) was satisfied.

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AAO did not disturb the Director's finding that criterion (vi) was satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-12_02_B2203; source_row=41702
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

Judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not disturb the Director's finding that criterion (iv) was satisfied.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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AAO did not disturb the Director's finding that criterion (iv) was satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-12_02_B2203; source_row=41700
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

One-time achievement (major internationally recognized award)

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not address the one-time achievement criterion on appeal; AAO noted the Director's conclusion stood unrebutted.

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The Petitioner did not address the one-time achievement criterion on appeal; AAO noted the Director's conclusion stood unrebutted.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-12_02_B2203; source_row=41699
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalPhysicianPhD

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Sina article was effectively anonymous because the credit was ambiguous and there was no information about 'News Express.' Translator certifications were dated nearly a year before the articles' publication and the materials appeared to be machine translations.

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AAO found the Sina article was effectively anonymous because the credit was ambiguous and there was no information about 'News Express.' Translator certifications were dated nearly a year before the articles' publication and the materials appeared to be machine translations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-12_03_B2203; source_row=41715
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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